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Post by outrider127 on Apr 1, 2018 20:49:33 GMT
One of the greatest scenes in movie history as Ben-Hur's wife and sister are dramatically cured of Leprosy following Christ's death after being crucified, the music, the lighting, the sound effects, impeccably directed by William Wyler
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Post by snsurone on Apr 1, 2018 21:41:55 GMT
I love that scene, outrider.
And especially the one following, where Judah slowly climbs the stairs in utter amazement as he sees the cured women.
In fact, Martha Scott looked younger in that last scene than she did in the entire movie!
I don't know why the women were in pain before their miraculous healing.
From what little I know, Hanson's Disease (aka leprosy), while a degenerative disease, is not a particularly physical painful one.
BTW, it was Ben Hur's mother, not his wife, who was afflicted.
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Post by politicidal on Apr 1, 2018 23:08:31 GMT
It's impressive how much holds up. The chariot chase remains an iconic action scene by comparison with the CGI stuff today.
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Post by claudius on Apr 2, 2018 1:23:37 GMT
"I don't know why the women were in pain before their miraculous healing.
From what little I know, Hanson's Disease (aka leprosy), while a degenerative disease, is not a particularly physical painful one."
Either they're feeling Jesus' death, or- as part of the healing process- they're feeling their bodies again, in all their damaged 'glory.'
I would make special note to the healing in the 1925 version, done in a single take via Karl Struss' color-filter/colored make-up effects.
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Post by snsurone on Apr 2, 2018 2:02:19 GMT
Claudius, that scene in the silent film was FAR inferior to the 1959 version.
In fact, almost everything about the silent movie was inferior to the MGM masterpiece.
Oh, I realize that silent movies were a unique art form, and a few of them I count among my favorite films, but in this case, I can't waver even a little.
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Post by claudius on Apr 2, 2018 13:43:05 GMT
Now, now, let's not go Judah-Messala on this one. I only made a comment of recognition rather than a 'the silent is better, y'know' criticism. The silent film needs it, especially now since the 2016 version has made everyone write it off from any position of comparison. Personally, 1959 is diamond as well, although that is not to say the silent isn't an emerald.
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Post by snsurone on Apr 2, 2018 14:55:54 GMT
Sorry I was so antsy, claude.
It's just that the 1959 version is high on my list of favorite movies.
That Miklos Rosza score is positively heart-stopping!
I've never seen the 2016 film, nor do I intend to.
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Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Apr 2, 2018 22:24:05 GMT
"There is hate in your eyes 41. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive."
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Post by snsurone on Apr 2, 2018 23:07:29 GMT
"There is hate in your eyes 41. That's good. Hate keeps a man alive." "It gives him strength." |
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Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Apr 2, 2018 23:28:37 GMT
"The race goes on Judah!"
Stephen Boyd deserves more credit.
He plays an asshole and does it so well-and after I heard that Gore Vidal story about him being instructed to get angry about Ben-Hur rejecting their homosexual romance (without telling Charlton Heston)....
I totally believe that was the interpretation based on his behavior. lol
"Down Eros! Up Mars!"
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Post by neurosturgeon on Apr 3, 2018 0:24:25 GMT
I think the silent version is a better telling of the story, BEN-HUR: THE STORY OF THE CHRIST. The 1959 film gives the Christ character short shrift.
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Post by claudius on Apr 3, 2018 1:02:06 GMT
I dunno about the Christ portrayal: In terms of number the silent version has nine Christ scenes (Nativity, Water, Sermon on Mount, Adultress, Palm Sunday, Last Supper, Pilate, Via Dolorosa, and- if you have the VHS/Laserdisc version and not the DVD/Blu- Crucifixion hand) over '59's seven (Nativity, Joseph, Water, Sermon, Pilate, Via Dolorosa, Crucifixion), but the '59 version has eight 'let's mention that carpenter' expositions over '25's five. And I do prefer portraying an actual person instead of Mr. Hands. So I don't think Jesus got shafted in the Wyler version.
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Post by timshelboy on Apr 4, 2018 10:29:14 GMT
Sorry I was so antsy, claude. It's just that the 1959 version is high on my list of favorite movies. That Miklos Rosza score is positively heart-stopping! I've never seen the 2016 film, nor do I intend to. I've never seen the 2016 film, nor do I intend to.
Wise choice - I did catch it and rate it as one of the very worst films I have ever seen - and the 59 one no huge favourite with me either (sorry) It made HEAVENS GATE and ISHTAR look like CITIZEN KANE and VERTIGO 
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Post by snsurone on Apr 4, 2018 11:51:44 GMT
"The race goes on Judah!" Stephen Boyd deserves more credit. He plays an asshole and does it so well-and after I heard that Gore Vidal story about him being instructed to get angry about Ben-Hur rejecting their homosexual romance (without telling Charlton Heston).... I totally believe that was the interpretation based on his behavior. lol "Down Eros! Up Mars!" That's "Down ARES! Up Mars!" I completely agree. IMHO, Boyd deserved the Oscar as Best Supporting Actor far more than the cartoonish Hugh Griffith. |
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Post by claudius on Apr 4, 2018 14:21:34 GMT
Actually, it is "Down Eros! Up Mars!" That's what's written in the novel. Down Love, Up Hate, which is what becomes of the relationship.
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Post by Carl LaFong on Apr 4, 2018 16:49:32 GMT
"Loved Ben, hated hur".
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Post by BATouttaheck on Apr 4, 2018 17:47:38 GMT
Reminds me of a true story: Kid going home from High School on a city bus was having to write his misspelled words 100 times so there he was writing Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her Ben Her etc  |
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Post by TheGoodMan19 on Apr 5, 2018 1:45:53 GMT
"The race goes on Judah!" Stephen Boyd deserves more credit. He plays an asshole and does it so well-and after I heard that Gore Vidal story about him being instructed to get angry about Ben-Hur rejecting their homosexual romance (without telling Charlton Heston).... I totally believe that was the interpretation based on his behavior. lol "Down Eros! Up Mars!" Stephen Boyd's performance is one of my 10 favorites in film history. He NEVER gets enough credit. Boyd plays Messala perfectly. A character who thinks he is doing right but becomes blinded by his hatred of those not on his side. Boyd, playing one cinemas/literature's most iconic and hated villains, never overact or chews scenery. You hate him but (Kind of) understand where's he coming from. Hugh Griffith, playing comic relief, gets the best supporting actor. Theft. |
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Post by Primemovermithrax Pejorative on Apr 5, 2018 1:49:35 GMT
He was also able to make a chilling point with a single word.
When Ben-Hur is being dragged off and says he will return to avenge his family, Messala says: "Return!?!" in a creepy shocked way.
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Post by snsurone on Apr 5, 2018 14:51:17 GMT
Actually, it is "Down Eros! Up Mars!" That's what's written in the novel. Down Love, Up Hate, which is what becomes of the relationship. Granted, I never read the book, but I can't believe that's what Judah and Messala actually meant, at least not in context of the scene where they said it. There was no hatred between them at that point, and neither could have foretold that their friendship would dissolve into enmity. "Down Ares, Up Mars!" makes more sense, as during that period, Rome had conquered Greece, and so Roman gods would replace Greek ones. |
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